Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-12-07
The s0ih Annual Report of the w. L..
Asylum.


The 60th Annual Report of the w. L..
Asylum.
At the late extra session of the Legislature
, the annex ed Joint resolution was adopted =
Resolped. That the superintendent of the
Eastern western, Southwestern, and Central
lunatic asylums are hereby constituted com
mission TO examine and report on the folIow-
ing subjects 10 the next General Assembly :
| First AS to the advisability OF dividing the
State into three divisions for the purpose OF
providing for the white insane of the state
and If advisable to apportion the State Tor
the respective divisions, taking into consloera-
ton the population and means Oh Transports
ton. c,,a ~
patients from one asylum to another, ,,,ot
| Third. To report plan by which the qulet
and incurable insane of both colors may be
provided for at less cost than at present, ano
| of giving more accommodation for new anu
| vioi emit cases OF insanity. and to report on
| such other mai tiers in regard to the treatment
of the insane eff the State as they may deem
| practicable.
| The first session of the commission herein
| created was commenced at the Western Asy-
lum 18th of August-presenta all the members,
to-wit: DR.. J. d. Moncure, of the Eastern; Dr.
| D. 3. Conrad, of the Western Dr. Randolph
Barksdae, of the Central; and DIR. Harvey
Black of the Southwestern, and continued
afterwards at the Southwestern Asylum. The
second session was held In November at the
Central and Eastern Asylums, and a report In
the main agreed upon, which the Commission
| at another session, to be held in Richmond in
! January, will review and then present it
through the Committee of the Legislature on
| Asylums to that body.
| REPORT OF TIE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
| First-The report provides for dividing the
State into three districts for white patients
| who are hereafter to be sent to the asylum
| located in the district from which the patient
comes. The counties and cities included IN
/ each of these districts were published in the
SPECTATOR the 18th OF august. Colored pa
| tents from the whole State are received at the
| Central Asylum, Petersburg.
Second Touching the matter of transferring
| patients from one Asylum to another in order
that each may be in their own allotted boun-
Diary, the report says, that there ITO
patients 10 the Western Asylum from the
Southwestern territory, and so who came from
l the Eastern. In the Eastern so from the
| Western. and 10 from the Southwester divi-
| sion; and in the Southwestern are5O belonging
| TO the Western, and 20 to the Eastern. TO
| make these transfers would cos 5000.
| Ninety per cent of the total OF these $50
patients are incurable, and have been in the
AsyIums long time-some as long as % years
The change would not benefit them, and their
| associations and habits being broken up. II
transfers are carried into effect, would ulti-
mately work harm therefore the Board do
| not recommend change but in cases where
| no harm to patient would result and friends
and relatives are willing to bear the expenses,
then the Superintendent are authorized to
allow it to take place.
| Third-(a). In relation to the chronic incura
| bles, it is advised to erect large associated
dormitories especially for that class of pa
tients. The domitories to be attached to the
main buildings In order that they may be
onomicaly heated and lighted, and the
patients receive attention through the direct
AS YUM organization.
(b.) For new durable and violent cases O.
| insanity additions to the existing Asy lums
are recomm ended.
| (c) The epileptic insane-the most danger
Gus and fncurable of all forms of insanity,
| and who as rule are lifelong inmates, 1t Is
rscomm ended shall have a separate building
specially planned and arranged for that class
| At this time there are IS of this class in the
| Asylums and 50 in jails or unprovided for
The Board urges this recommendation in the
| strongest language.
SUGGESTION.
Responding to the spirit of the instructions
| of the joint resolution, the Commissioners
make several suggestions for the better gov
| erQm0nL Oh luo ASP iuiiio anu OIiiSi A'i~eo>AS
connected with that branch of the public SER
vice.
First-That idiots shall not be received into
The insane asyIums. If they should be, or be-
come idiotic after being admitted. and are
harmless, then they should be sent 10 the
Alms-house of the county or city from which
they came.
iSecond-That Sheriffs or persons authorized
as provided for in the Code to convey patients
| to Asylums, the Clerk only of the Court shall
be authorized to Issue transportation, and
| that upon the order of the Superintendent
authorizing the patient to be taken to his
Asylum.
Ihird-No Director, ror any other officer of
| an asylum shall be either directly or indirect
Iy interested in any contract, sale. or purchase
| in relation to the Asy lum Or its support.
Observation-Disclosures and the Assistent
Physicians OF the several Insane Asylums OF
the state should be exempt rom the opera
| ii on OF subpoenas summoning them to differ
ent and distant parts of the Commonwealth
| for The purpose of giving evidence or informa
| ton, as experts, In criminal or civil cases.
Frhh-No more than one Director should be
appointed from any one county or city.
| Sixt-It is recommended that in legal as
| we'll AS he general business desig nation of the
Aay lums they shall be known as INSANE" in
stead OF "Lunati is to say, the western
Insane Asylum instead of Western Lunatic
Asylum
seuenn-The following is suggested in the
r4poit as proper treatment for the criminal
ilsaDe:-
An act done by person who Is an idiot, I'm
he.ite luuatIc OF insane is not a crime. A per
scn cannot be t4ied, sentenced TO any punish
| ment. OF punished for q crime, While ne Is In
state Of idlocy, imbecility. iunacy, or INSANITY
| SO as to De incae abe of understanding Inc lro
ceedlns making his defense.
bt,ity as an idiot, imDecils Iunatic. or insane
/ person except upon p oof thai, at the time of
conmittiig the alleged criminal act. he Was
/ i.bvring under such d defect OF reason as either
% not TO knqg Inc nature or quality Of the
"I q y Not TO kn55w that the get was wrong.
When person indicted for murder or1nan-
slaughter is acquitted by the jury by reason OF
be committed to one of the state lunatic asy-
Iums during his natural life.
ANY person committed to a State lunatic asy
tIun Encer the preceding section may be dis
charged 'tnereir from by the Governor, by anu with
the consent OF the Hogrd q Charities. when
they satisfied, after nearing OF tne g after
that such person may be discharged without
ia narson convicted of a capital crime, is, at
the tiiae when notion for sentence is made,
found to the satisfaction Of the court to be iu-
sane, the Court may cause spcn person 70 60
for such term, and under such limitations as
} it may DIRECT;
Ii appears W EnE hetioiqobiOAi St tAtO NV
ernor aud State Bard Of CHARITIES; that con-
Wet under sentence OF death, has become in-
sane, the execution OF sald sentence may 6e
, | respited by the Governor by and with the ad-
| vice OF the State Board of Charities from time
10 time for st ted periods. until 1T appears 10
| their satisfaction that the convict is no longer
insane.
r Sixtieth Annu@l Report Of the western
Lunatie Asylum.
> Tbs goth annual report of the Board Of Rirec-
tors and MEDICAL superintendent ofthe West
ern Lunasic asylum. has been published, the
fiscal year ending september 3oth. 1887.
1t first refers to the insurance on the build
ings as hitherto provided for. All the poi1cles
have been cancelled, because there was no law
: / authorizing it. The legislature can. If deemed
: ad ysabie, provide fer insurance hereafter. but
the report does not consider it eeseHtiel be
cause of the protection against fire available In
>, the government of the Institution.
The curative feature of the institution has al
most disappeared for tie want Of room. The
| n